Ever stumble across a Bible verse that has your name all over it? You read it and think, “I’ve never seen that in there before!” Then, throughout the day, the Holy Spirit keeps calling your attention to that verse as you run into situations where it applies. Here’s the verse:
“You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:14
The Lord was telling his audience to do good things for people who are unable to repay them. When you give a party, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. They’ll not be able to repay you, he pointed out, but I shall repay you at the resurrection.
A couple of hours after I read that, a friend in Kentucky told me of the work he was doing with the state legislature battling gambling, alcohol, and drugs. He often feels discouraged. I said, “Let me give you a Scripture,” and I shared Luke 14:14 with him. I added, “Those who follow Jesus Christ have to decide if we are willing to serve the Lord by faith.” That means we may never see the good we are doing until we stand before Him at judgment.”
He said, “Talk about delayed compensation!” We laughed and he said it was the precise word he needed for that morning.
Later in the afternoon, a colleague of mine–a Director of Missions from another part of the state–asked for prayer as he spoke that evening to college students about doing mission work in
We sat there discussing the implications of that word from our Lord. It means a willingness to walk by faith, to wait on our reward, and to trust Jesus to keep his word.
Not easy assignments for this generation which demands instant gratification, wants to see results this afternoon for what we did this morning, and expects proofs rather than promises.
Nothing tells the story about my discipleship than my willingness to wait for my reward until Jesus hands it out personally.
Dr. Joe McKeever
